Future Coast Bude

There are road closures in place for the Bude Carnival on 16^th August. These closures affect the usual Park & Ride route. To allow the Park & Ride to keep running on this day, between 6-7pm the Park and Ride pick up/ drop off point will move to Budehaven school, Stratton Road (EX23 8DQ). The Park & Ride will not stop at the Strand during this time. The car park will remain the same.

Restoration work on the historic Sand Rails walkway continues to move forward, with recent cooler weather helping the team make good progress.

The sloping revetment and dwarf retaining wall are now complete and fully pointed. Attention has now shifted to the walkway itself, where work is underway to carefully restore the original surface.

Contractors have begun clearing the old cobbled surface at the seaward end of the walkway and removing any badly corroded sections of the original tramway rail. The historic granite setts have been surveyed and set aside. These will be reinstated in their original locations but at a slightly higher level when the new concrete surfacing is laid.

Since their installation, the temporary steps have been well used by visitors heading to Summerleaze beach, helping to ease pressure on the main access route during the busy summer season.

Completed revetment to dwarf wall transition.	Finished revetment and seeded top bank looking seaward.	Removal process of old walkway surfacing and corroded rails – historic granite setts removed and stored for reuse.	Newly installed temporary staircase reported to be well utilised by summer visitors to Bude.

Sloping revetment almost completed to its full height.	Sloping revetment almost completed to its full height	Revetment and dwarf wall interface awaiting pointing	New temporary access staircase installed for increased summer holiday foot traffic

Works have been progressing well on site with the revetment and dwarf retaining wall almost complete. The final pointing works are left to undertake.

Works are now progressing onto the sand rail walkway, where efforts will be made to preserve the historic granite setts of the old railway siding. Works will be undertaken to provide new walkway surfacing, incorporating the historic sand rails. Where the condition of the rails is too poor to allow their incorporation into the new surfacing, they will be replaced with replica narrow gauge train rails.

The new temporary set of stairs has now been installed to ease the expected increased summer holiday foot traffic visiting Summerleaze beach. The temporary stairs will remain in place until the works on the walkway are complete.

The Bude Park and Ride Pilot has been running for just over a week now, and has continued to have very positive feedback from those using it. In particular, it has proved especially popular with young people, who can travel on the bus for just £1 return.

Being dropped off at The Strand is particularly convenient if you want to go to the crazy golf, use the pedalos or rowing boats on the canal, feed the ducks, or go crabbing. Why not make the journey in to Bude part of the adventure, just like these young people did...

The final layer of scaffolding deck has been installed to allow the completion of the top part of the sloping revetment. The first five metres of the seaward end of the revetment are now complete.

Whilst high temperatures have been slowing progress with large concrete pours, teams have been working on re-pointing the gaps between the block to create a solid outer layer of the revetment. It is planned that works on the sloping revetment will be completed by the end of this week.

Now the revetment is nearing completion work will begin on the upper section of the walkway. This will involve removing the existing surfacing and preservation works on the existing sand rails.

The walkway works were originally planned to be completed before the summer holiday to allow inclusive access to Summerleaze beach, however with the programme delays Cornwall Council have chosen to install an additional set of temporary stairs to ease congestion on the existing access steps until the works are complete. The steps will be installed this week and will remain in place until the walkway works are completed.

Works on the final top section of revetment.	Re-pointing works to the completed sloping revetment face.	Re-pointing works on top of the to the completed dwarf wall.

This weekend saw the launch of the Bude Park and Ride, with a steady flow of customers, despite the awful weather on Sunday. The Bude Park and Ride pilot is part of the Future Coast Bude project. It is funded through the Defra Flood and Coastal Resilience Programme and was a recommendation in the Bude Town Vision.

Tony Gibbs, Town Team Lead, who developed the Vision, said ‘The Town Team worked with the local community to consider what could be done to improve Bude in the future. One of the issues that was identified was the congestion and poor environment that car traffic has for people in the town. A key recommendation of the report was for Bude to have a Park and Ride service. It is fantastic that the funding brought to the town through the Future Coast Bude project has allowed this to be piloted, and shows the benefit of having projects ready to go, for when funding becomes available.’

Locals and visitors alike used the service, with 100% of feedback in the first weekend saying the service was excellent and that they would use it again or recommend to friends and family.

The field, which the Dennis Family have kindly given their project permission to use, is located just off the A39, and has space for around 80 cars, with the ability to extend if the demand is there. It is in an ideal location between the King’s Hill junction for the town and the Hillhead/ Penbode roundabout.

Parking is free, with ticket prices £2 per adult, £1 per child and £6 for a family of up to two adults and 4 children.

The first weekend brought a real mixture of local families, people walking from nearby houses, visitors to the area and people using the free parking to allow them to use connecting buses in town to other destinations.

The service is running for six weeks, from 19 July to 30 August, 7 days a week, from 9:30 – 19:00.

Comments included praise for the ease of use, friendly drivers and regular service.

Additional signage is being investigated to make it even easier for tourists to choose this as the hassle free option for visiting the town. One visitor to Bude who used the service mentioned how it is clear that the town desperately needs this service as the traffic was so dreadful.

It is hoped that this service can improve the experience of visiting the town in peak season for locals and visitors alike. One local commented that she had spent significantly more money in the local shops than normal, as she didn’t feel under pressure to get back to the car.

Where is the Bude Park and Ride?

The Bude Park and Ride is situated in the field between the Bude Business Park and the A39. It is accessed off the A39.

How much is the Park and Ride?

Adults are £2 return, children £1 return and a family of up to 2 adults and 4 children is £6. This compares to £10.50 for 24 hours car parking at Summerleaze car park.

Park and Ride bus tickets will be specifically for the Park and Ride service and can't be used on any other GoCornwall Bus Service. Concessionary Bus Passes will not be accepted on this service.

What time is the service running?

The first bus will depart the Park and Ride bus stop at 9:30. Buses will run every 15 minutes, departing the Park and Ride Site at quarter past, half past, quarter to and on the hour.

The last bus to depart the Park and Ride will be at 18:45.

The first bus will arrive at The Strand at 09:38. Buses will run every 15 minutes, departing The Strand at 12 minutes, 27 minutes, 42 minutes and 57 minutes past the hour.

The last bus to depart The Strand is at 18:42.

How will Bude Carnival affect the Park & Ride?

Road closures are in place for Bude Carnival on 16^th August. Between 6-7pm on this day, the Park and Ride pick up/ drop off point will move to Budehaven school, Stratton Road.

Can I take my beach equipment on the Park and Ride?

You can take your beach equipment, although the buses will not be able to take large surf boards.

How far is it to get to the beach from The Strand?

Summerleaze beach is between 5 and 10 minutes walk and Crooklets beach is between 15 and 20 minutes walk.

The Town Centre is around 3 minutes walk.

Can dogs go on the Park and Ride?

Dogs can travel free of charge on the Park and Ride.

Is the Park and Ride suitable for wheelchair users?

The parking field is quite uneven, and might be difficult to navigate in a wheelchair. The bus will have a ramp, but there is no kerb at the Park and Ride site, so the ramp will be quite steep if used.

Whose land is the Park and Ride on?

The Park and Ride field is being used by kind permission of the Dennis Family.

What happens if I miss the last bus back to the Park and Ride?

The Park and Ride is approximately 35 minute walk from The Strand. It is recommended that you access the Park and Ride field through the field entrance off the Bude Business Park.

Local taxis may be able to take you.

The gates to the site will be shut over night.

Why are you piloting a Park and Ride in Bude?

As our climate changes, our amenities on the coast will come under more and more pressure. This includes car parks. As part of a local consultation, a Park and Ride service for Bude was recommended to take the pressure off the beach side car parks. The Future Coast Bude project has provided the funding to pilot this to see if it helps provided a suitable alternative to town centre car parking.

We previously said that the Sand Rails walkway would be ready in time for the summer holidays, and we are sorry that this won't now be the case.

The contractors have been working hard to complete the project, carefully balancing the need for accessible beach access with the importance of preserving this historic part of Bude.

Unfortunately, due to unexpectedly high spring tides at the beginning of the programme, challenges with the supply of concrete, and issues associated with the concrete setting quickly in hot weather, the work has been delayed.

We understand this delay is disappointing, but it is important that the work is completed to a high standard - one that provides safe, long-lasting access for those with mobility needs, while protecting the integrity of the heritage structure.

Cornwall Council are working with the contractors to explore all options available to mitigate the impact of any over-run on the local community and summer tourist season. It is hoped that an additional set of temporary steps will be installed, parallel to the existing steps, to help take the pressure off the main steps during peak season. We appreciate that this won't help if you aren't able to use the steps, and the contractors are working hard to compete this work as soon as possible. It is hoped that this will be by the end of the Summer holidays.

Works continue on site with on the sloping revetment which has almost reached its full height. The dwarf wall is now complete, with the cobbled upper surface now being worked on.

Three layers of scaffolding platforms installed for working on the revetment	Cobblestones on top of dwarf wall looking seaward	Dwarf wall and cobblestones looking landward

Future Coast Bude are delighted to announce that a Park and Ride will be trialled in Bude this summer, funded through the project.

Reduce congestion, take the pressure off car parks, improve the environment in Bude and enjoy a stress free trip!

The Park and Ride will start operating on Saturday 19 July 2025 and run until Saturday 30 August 2025, with buses running every 15 minutes from 09:30 to 19:00, 7 days a week.

Free parking will be available in the field situated between Bude Business Park and the A39. The entrance and exit will be off the A39. People will be signposted along the footpath in the field that runs parallel to the A39, and comes out on the layby on the northbound carriage way.

The bus will travel north along the A39, turn left at the roundabout and travel down the A3072 (Stratton Road), dropping off at The Strand, before returning to the Park and Ride via King’s Hill. Tickets will cost £2 return for adults, £1 return for children and £6 return for a family of up to 2 adults and 4 children.

Park and Ride bus tickets will be specifically for the Park and Ride service and can't be used on any other GoCornwall Bus Service. Concessionary Bus Passes will not be accepted on this service.

Signs will be put on the north bound carriage way before King’s Hill and the south bound carriage way before the roundabout encouraging people to use the park and ride. There will be signs either side of the field entrance, as well as signs in the car park telling people where to walk and information about the buses.

The service number is Service 130.

Dogs are allowed on the bus, and beach equipment. Small body boards will be accepted if there is room, however unfortunately there will not be capacity for surf boards.

Background

A Park and Ride was a key recommendation in the Town Vision, consulted on and delivered through the Town Team.

The Town Vision stated, ‘By investing in improvement to Bude town centre’s public realm, transport options and connections, the negative impact of car congestion on the town centre can be reduced and more space can be used for initiatives that will grow a healthier, greener town centre that will adapt better to the challenges of climate change.’ Project 12 focussed on off-street parking and specifically mentions investing in a park and ride.

Progress on the access way has been progressing well and another level of scaffolding has been installed to give access to higher up the revetment. This section of revetment has now been completed and pointed with Marine mortar. Progress has also been made on the dwarf wall.

Second level of scaffolding	Pointing of the wall.	Progress on dwarf wall	The rails have been painted with galvanised paint.